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Hello to all friends of Sunbird Aloes

Although many of the smaller aloe cultivars have been in flower for months, most of the larger cultivars flower in winter and many of them are already showing their flowering intentions with massively emerging inflorescences. Even amongst these  large aloes there have been early flowers from dependables like ‘Curvacious’, ‘First Gold’ and Ruby Blaze’, all of which are still going strong as I am writing this.

For more information about us visit our website www.sunbirdaloes.co.za or our facebook page

Sunbird Aloes nursery re-locating

The shortage of newsletters up to now has not been for want of newsworthy items, in fact quite the opposite. We are in the process of moving out of our lovely North Riding site of many years as the property has been sold – yes, yet another townhouse complex. Thousands of plants have to be moved and it is a huge logistical challenge.

First came the hunt for suitable location(s) as our property in Ferndale is filled to capacity. Now for the big move, which will entail uprooting all the large aloes growing in open ground and transporting them to their new home on the corner of Vine Avenue and Dover Street in Ferndale, very close to the main Sunbird Aloes property. Although these plants do not really mind when they are transplanted (provided you use a bit of common sense when watering) it will simplify our task if we can get this done before the flowers become too large and unwieldy. So as fast as possible.

Apologies, therefore, to many friends who may have thought that their names had fallen off the newsletter list. It would not have made any sense to put out newsletters if we could not find alternative accommodation for our aloes. We have however, kept up our Facebook presence should you have the inclination to follow us there.

Sunbird Aloes - Open week 2016 in Randburg

A number of people have already asked about the annual open day and we are glad to report that it will be happening in 2016, albeit in a slightly different format.

Because it is difficult to envisage the logistics for the new venue and because we do not have the on-site parking facilities like we did in North Riding, we thought it prudent to have an open week instead of an open day this year. The only proviso is that you are kindly requested to book your visiting time IF you wish to come during the week. This will help you avoid the rush on Saturday when visitors are free to come at any time from 09h00 to 16h00. It will also enable us to give you some personal attention, something that may be difficult on the Saturday.

Here are the details: Open weekdays 20 to 24 June 2016 (by appointment – contact Leo on +27 82 824 6604) and Open Saturday 25 June from 09h00 to 16h00. Admission is free every day. The address is 336 Vine Avenue, Ferndale, Randburg. GPS 26°05’22”S and 27°59’29”E.

Please note only cash or EFT will be accepted, no Credit card facilities are available.

Sunbird Aloes outlets to take note of

Kwazulu Natal

  1. Ruthe Gray joined the Sunbird Aloes family in 2015. She is situated near Eshowe and her selection of cultivars is already well established. She is an experienced grower of many plants, including aloes, and she can be contacted at grayruthe@gmail.com

Western Cape

  1. The Rooiklip Nursery in Swellendam (Jaap Viljoen : +27 82 900 5455) is open to the public from Monday to Friday from 8 until 5 and Saturdays from 8 till 1.The display garden is now 95% established. More than 40 of the most popular Sunbird aloes are available in this nursery. The Rooiklip aloe barn is the largest water wise and succulent display facility after Kirstenbosch in the Western Cape.
  2. People in Cape Town can now find their Sunbird Aloes at the newly established Rooiklip Cape Town. Kate Steyn. who runs Rooiklip Cape Town, can  be contacted on +27 84 573 0723.

Other Western Cape nurseries that stock Sunbird Aloes are:

  1. Goemans Garden Centre;
  2. Cape Garden Centre in Stellenbosch and Somerset west;
  3. Kirstenbosch Garden centre;
  4. Vandenberg Garden Centre;
  5. Sithanda Plants in Grabouw.

On the garden route, our aloes are available at

  1. Pot and Plant Nursery in Riversdale;
  2. The Aloe Ferox Nursery in Albertina.

In George aloes are now available at

  1. The Bargain Nursery close to the Airport.

Eastern Cape

  1. Sue Burden (+27 84 462 2393), of Lowlands Nursery is the Sunbird Aloes grower in Kei Road near East London. Sue and Ian Burden joined the Sunbird Aloes family in 2011 and they now grow a large selection of Sunbird Aloes cultivars. Their wholesale nursery lies on a farm off the N6 between East London and Stutterheim and is well worth a visit in the colder months when the aloes flower.
  2. Sue would like to invite any garden clubs, landscapers or enthusiastic gardeners to arrange a visit. Please phone for an appointment as Sue has her own landscaping business that takes her away from home most of the time.
  3. Sunbird Aloes can be found at the following nurseries:   

    Floradale, East London;
    Floradale, Port Elizabeth;
    Standerwick Nursery, Port Alfred;
    Sunnyside Garden Centre, Grahamstown
    Pioneer Nursery, Gonubie
    Michelle’s garden centre, East London

Gauteng

In Gauteng there are three venues to take note of: the Sunbird Aloes home nursery in Randburg, Gariep Plants in Pretoria and Witkoppen Wildflower Nursery, also in Randburg.

  1. The Sunbird Aloes home nursery is a wholesale nursery in Randburg, Gauteng - the address is 336 Vine Avenue, Ferndale, Randburg. It is necessary to make an appointment (Leo – +27 82 824 6604) before a visit. A minimum order of 10 plants applies, unless you visit us during the open week.
  2. Gariep Plants in Faery Glen, Pretoria - Contact Kotie Retief (012 991 2988 or +27 83 519 6960). Email: gariep@kambroo.com
  3. Malcolm Hepplewhite (+27 82 900 8324) of Witkoppen Wildflower Nursery (near the Dome in Randburg).

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